Current Vacancies & Making an Application

Team Manager R & A

£39,621 - £45,807

This is your chance to become part of a new management team in one of London’s busiest Referral and Assessment Services.

The role

A senior social work professional, you will lead a front-line team of two Practice Managers and nine Social Workers. We’ll look to you to ensure the timely allocation and completion of assessment work while developing a creative and learning culture within the team and supporting the development of individuals. Committed to high quality social work practice, you’ll also ensure a robust performance framework is in place.

The requirements

Known for your strong leadership and time management skills, you will be a qualified social worker with substantial post-qualifying experience. This will include child protection, care planning, and undertaking court work where the issues are both complex and in dispute. You’ll also have a recognised flair for supervising and developing social work staff.

Why join us?

You will support a diverse staff group with varying levels of skills and knowledge to go that extra mile to provide meaningful service to the people we serve. We have a strong commitment to improving the quality as well as the timeliness of assessment work. Our strengths also include integrated working with our partner agencies, such as health, education, and housing.

Ref: 1687
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Senior Practitioner FST

£36,096 - £42,258

An experienced children’s social worker, you’ll share skills and knowledge while managing a complex caseload focused on child protection.

The role

Responsible for delivering complex assessments and undertaking investigations following child protection enquiries, you will make full use of your extensive experience.

Your activities will include representing the service at court, initial child protection conferences, and planning and review meetings. You will also support and mentor newly qualified colleagues.

The requirements

You’ll need experience of managing a complex caseload, which has included mental health, domestic violence, and pre-birth assessments. You should also have the ability to prepare reports and present them in a formal setting.

Holding a recognised social work qualification and registered with the GSCC, you’ll have the professional experience and personal skills to mentor and motivate others.

Ref: 1688
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Practice Manager - Adolescent and Aftercare (CLA 13-18)

£36,096 - £42,258

This is an opportunity to develop your career to focus on delivering high quality outcomes for Looked After Children.

The role

The Adolescent and Aftercare Service specialises in delivering effective pathway planning and direct work with young people. You will need to demonstrate excellence in these areas in order to deliver high quality, responsive and child-focused services enabling the best use of resources in delivering effective independence pathways and positive health education and employment outcomes at 18.

Over the last 3 years the service has been very successful in achieving excellent outcomes for young people and care leavers. It greatly values workers committed to ensuring children looked after get the best life chances through a well supported team based approach.

As part of the leadership of this team you will be undertaking the full range of management and supervisory tasks for Social Workers. This includes overseeing direct work and case planning, as well as carrying out professional supervision, directing individual cases and offering guidance and support to staff. You’ll also be responsible for developing staff to deliver effective outcomes for young people.

The requirements

A qualified, registered and considerably experienced Social Work professional, you will have excellent knowledge of key legislation and experience of applying them in the field. You will have court work and child protection experience as well as a strong knowledge of effective working with young people and the diverse range of challenges they may experience. Above all, you will bring a strong commitment and passion to deliver better outcomes for Children who are Looked After.

Ref: 1646
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Practice Manager - CLA 0-12 Service

£36,096 - £42,258

This is an opportunity to develop your career to focus on delivering high quality permanent outcomes for younger Looked After Children.

The role

The Children Looked After 0-12 Service specialises in care proceedings, permanence planning and direct work. You will need to demonstrate excellence in these areas in order to deliver high quality, responsive and child-focused services enabling the best use of resources in establishing long-term plans for children.

Over the last 3 years the service has been very successful in achieving high numbers of excellent permanent outcomes for children. It greatly values workers committed to ensuring children looked after get the best life chances through a well supported team based approach.

As part of the leadership of this team you will be undertaking the full range of management and supervisory tasks for Social Workers. This includes overseeing assessments and case planning, as well as carrying out professional supervision, directing individual cases and offering guidance and support to staff. You'll also be responsible for developing staff to deliver effective outcomes for children and families.

The requirements

A qualified, registered and considerably experienced Social Work professional, you will have excellent knowledge of key legislation and experience of applying them in the field. You will have extensive court work and child protection experience in circumstances where issues are complex and in dispute is key. Above all, you will bring a strong commitment to deliver better outcomes for children who are Looked After

Ref: 1652
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Senior Practitioner - CLA 0-12 Service

£36,096 - £42,258

This is an opportunity to develop your career to focus on delivering high quality permanent outcomes for younger Looked After Children.

The role

The Children Looked After 0-12 Service specialises in care proceedings, permanence planning and direct work. You will need to demonstrate excellence in these areas in order to deliver high quality, responsive and child-focused services enabling the best use of resources in establishing long-term plans for children.

Over the last 3 years the service has been very successful in achieving high numbers of excellent permanent outcomes for children. It greatly values workers committed to ensuring children looked after get the best life chances through a well supported team based approach.

As part of this team, you will work with more complex cases, develop your own specialism and model excellent practice.

The requirements

A qualified Social Work professional with GCSS registration, you will bring significant post-qualifying level experience of working within a children and families social work environment, particularly with looked after children.

You’ll be skilled in managing a complex caseload, undertaking complex assessments, direct work and preparing high quality reports and presenting them in a formal setting.

Ref: 1650
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Senior Practitioner - Adolescent And Aftercare (CLA 13-18)

£36,096 - £42,258

This is an opportunity to develop your career to focus on delivering high quality permanent outcomes for younger Looked After Children.

The role

The Children Looked After 0-12 Service specialises in care proceedings, permanence planning and direct work. You will need to demonstrate excellence in these areas in order to deliver high quality, responsive and child-focused services enabling the best use of resources in establishing long-term plans for children.

Over the last 3 years the service has been very successful in achieving high numbers of excellent permanent outcomes for children. It greatly values workers committed to ensuring children looked after get the best life chances through a well supported team based approach.

As part of this team, you will work with more complex cases, develop your own specialism and model excellent practice.

The requirements

A qualified Social Work professional with GCSS registration, you will bring significant post-qualifying level experience of working within a children and families social work environment, particularly with looked after children.

You’ll be skilled in managing a complex caseload, undertaking complex assessments, direct work and preparing high quality reports and presenting them in a formal setting.

Ref: 1692
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Service Manager - Looked After Children 13-21

£44,463 - £55,674

This is an opportunity to lead four teams and work with a wide range of partners to continue to deliver a first class Adolescent & Aftercare service.

Why join us?

At Southwark, we understand what ambitious mangers like you expect from your next position, the responsibility, accountability and influence it takes to make a significant impact on frontline service delivery. These roles will certainly not disappoint.

You will be joining at a time when the infrastructure of Children's Services is stronger than ever. We will equip you with the resources you need to get results and, you can be highly proactive in shaping strategy and services, in an environment where ideas and innovative practice go hand in hand with our empathetic approach.

The role

You will lead on the development, planning and management of services with our Adolescent and Aftercare Service. The remit includes responsibility for all care planning, partnerships and service provision.

You will also provide direct leadership to four teams - 13-18 Social Work, (2) Unaccompanied Minors, and Aftercare Service (18-21).

The CLA service has many strengths ,including high levels of permanent and motivated staff, a very strong JAR rating, and a well-developed participation strategy - you will have scope to build on this foundation and also give young people even greater involvement in shaping the services which benefit them.

The requirements

What makes you the right fit for Southwark? The fact that you are a proven leader who still genuinely understands, and empathises with young people, care leavers and frontline social workers. Our staff know that the support and encouragement of managers is always with them.

In addition:

• You will be a qualified social worker with considerable experience of managing the provision of a statutory social work service
• You will have strong knowledge of Looked After Children and the 13-21 years agenda
• Excellent people skills and the ability to facilitate partnership working

Ref: 1345
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Practice Manager R & A

£36,096 - £42,258

This is an opportunity to develop your career and to focus on delivering high quality outcomes for Children.

The role

To provide casework management to frontline social workers and contribute to their professional supervision and development.

The requirements

As an experienced manager of frontline social care staff you will be adept at offering professional supervision, guidance and support to staff involved in complex assessment. In addition you will also direct individuals in the management of specific cases.

Chairing meetings and represent the service at conferences, court and planning and strategy meeting will form part of your skill set. Central to your success in this role will be your ability to assist in team planning and developing staff. You will also contribute to the appraisal of individual staff performances.

Experienced in complex assessment work, you will have held a caseload that includes child protection and court work. You’ll be able to assess the performance and achievement of social work practice. A good understanding of key legislation and the Pan London Procedures are essential.

Ref: 1686
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Operations Manager x 2 - Court Services

£39,621 - £45,807

A Social Work professional, you will bring proven experience of people and change management to the work of Southwark’s Youth Offending Service.

The role

Leading a multi-agency team drawn from a variety of agencies and professional backgrounds, you will ensure the provision of services to young people and their families who are involved or at risk of involvement in crime. You will be responsible for assessment, case planning, workload management and performance appraisal, as well as deputise for the Youth Offending Services Manager as required.

The requirements

Registered with the GSCC or with a Diploma in Probation Studies, you will have a thorough working knowledge of the legislation governing the work of the Youth Offending Team. Skilled in negotiating and priority setting, you will also have experience of staff supervision and be able to apply the principles underpinning the effective management of change.

Ref: 1577
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Practice Manager

Part-time, 18 hours per week
£36,096 - £42,258 pro rata

The role

Leading the service to the Youth Court on behalf of the Council’s Youth Offending Team, you will set up strong links with court based services so the department can fulfill its duties under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. As a senior social work professional, you will be responsible for supervising staff within the social work team while also carrying out your own assessments, case planning and review functions within Children’s Services. This is an excellent opportunity to develop new ways of working within a skilled and highly motivated team.

The requirements

You will be an experienced Social Worker, GSCC-registered or a qualified Probation Officer. Central to your success will be a good knowledge of best practice as it relates to youth offending. You will have a strong grasp of the needs of young people and the assessment process. Solid written and spoken communication skills will be essential, as will an understanding of quality assurance and case auditing.

Ref: 1708
Closing date: 30th July 2010

Senior Practitioner - Referral Order Panels

18 hours per week. Fixed term contract until March 2011
£36,096 - £42,258 pro rata

The role

You will convene and co-ordinate Youth Offender Panels for young offenders sentenced to a Referral Order by the court. This will involve recruiting, training and supporting community volunteers to act as panel members. In addition, you will liaise with Southwark’s Youth Offending Team and other agencies to plan, implement and monitor the effectiveness of a range of interventions. This is a hugely rewarding and rare opportunity to develop new ways of working within a highly motivated team.

The requirements

As an experienced and qualified probation officer, teacher or GSCC registered Social Worker; you will have a background in Youth Offending and will be familiar with co-ordinating panel contracts and support volunteers. Someone familiar with the problems and issues faced by young people and their families in an inner city environment, you will have a detailed knowledge of the legislative framework surrounding youth offending.

Ref: 1709
Closing date: 30th July 2010

YOT Officers

£29,571 - £38,733

The role

Providing a duty service, both office-based and in court, you’ll work as a member of the multi-agency Youth Offending Team, helping to provide an effective service to the Youth Court. Conducting detailed assessments of young people involved in crime or those at risk of becoming involved, you’ll work in accordance with legislative frameworks, including the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 and the Children Act 1989. As part of the role, you’ll also be expected to build good links with the families of these young people.

The requirements

As a GSCC registered Social Worker, or a qualified Probation Officer, first and foremost, you’ll need significant experience of working with offenders and their families in a statutory or voluntary setting. Here, you’ll have built up excellent assessment and report writing skills, together with a sound knowledge of Risk and Vulnerability management.

Ref: 1707
Closing date: 30th July 2010